History Reflected in Horror Films

    On April 5, 2011, Professor Wollman, from the Fine and Performing Arts Department, led a discussion about horror movies and its relation to U.S. history. As horror films developed throughout the decades, it corresponded with drastic events that sparked fear in the American people. For example in the 1950s, the idea of conformity and McCarthyism led directors, producers and writers to create movies such as The Blob. 

     Today’s horror movies are about torture and inflicting wounds on someone’s body. This type of horror could be linked to the United States fighting wars as well as potential terrorists and/or prisoners who are being physically tortured. It is the fear of being in an unknown place and kept barely alive while suffering under the wrath of a torturer. As a result, one of the subliminal messages behind these horror movies is that if anyone does something wrong, he or she will be punished for their mistakes. Therefore, it is best to be cautious and follow the rules of society and not venture out to do something out of the norm.  Overall, this was an eye opening experience because it shows how our fear of stepping outside the box can be translated into horror films for mass media.

-Arunna Raj